Ukiah heat shatters record; cooler days ahead

Triple-digit temperatures on Friday and Saturday tied and broke record highs for those days, and may be the last of the scorching weather for at least the coming week, according to the National Weather Service.

The temperature peaked at 110 degrees Saturday afternoon, shattering Ukiah's record temperature of 102 degrees for June 8, recorded in 1955.

"We probably did that by noon," NWS meteorologist Jeff Tonkin said, adding that the temperature in Ukiah had climbed to the 90s by 10 a.m.

Friday's peak temperature was 106 degrees, a tie with the previous record. The last time it was that hot in Ukiah on June 7 was 1926, according to Tonkin.

A number of factors caused the high temperatures, according to Tonkin, who did not classify the record highs as temperature spikes.

"You have strong high pressure aloft, which bodes for increasing temperatures and clear skies," he said. "We're also getting very close to the (summer) solstice. June 22 is the longest day of the year, so there's lots of opportunity for sunlight and maximum sun (exposure). You also don't have marine influence yet."

Relief may be in sight, however, with the high-pressure system on its way out and likely being replaced by a cooler air mass, Tonkin said.

A temperature drop of at least 20 degrees was predicted to start today and continue the rest of the week, through Saturday, June 15, according to the NWS, with daytime highs ranging from 77 to 88 degrees and nighttime lows in the lower 50s and upper 40s.

Clouds were predicted for inland Mendocino County today, which Tonkin said could spark thunderstorms east of Ukiah in the afternoon.

Tiffany Revelle can be reached at udjtr@ukiahdj.com, on Twitter @TiffanyRevelle or at 468-3523.